The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1887-01-28

ihcl bought her mourning. the very
best, aud dare say they'll give her
Alexis propcrty--you know he had a
fortune from his own mother the
Squlrc's first wife"
"Haye you heard that John refused
70 believe II at first ?" asked Mrs.
Blunt.
Yes he was little stiff NJ first nc
never liked Louise, you know"
III seems 70 me shouldn't want 20
take i on trust rs they've done.
should want 70 see letters in his own
hand. or something coniirmatory. not
just her word for IT,"
"Secms 10 me II would be trcmen-
dous cruelty TO turn deaf ear 10 her nj
such time and refuse to believe her
story"
Yes" agreed Mrs. Blunt. "sBeftcr
be cheated 10 the last than lose the
blessed hope Of truth, as some poet
says
Il was few days after these aston
ishing events that Miss Betty L. Breton
returned from a vacation ut the mount
aims. without having heard 81 the dis
aster that had oyertaken the Fam
shawcs.
"Whcn am married." she said, in
the enthusiasm 81 first acquaintance
with the mountains, II shall take my
wedding tour through the hills in a
buggy; it's just cnchantment. Any
letter for me, Aunt Ellen? Any
news?''
"Ncws? Oh dcar-ycs--too much.
! didn't write you because Ididn't want
to sadden your vacation. And you
and Aleck were always such friends.
"Alcck."
Eyes. The Aibatross has been lost
at sea. and the Fanshawes are Just
heart-brokcn, and Louise il there with
them; il seems she was engaged to
Aleck privately; and her widows
weeds are very becoming. It's dread
full thing for her; but they say the
Squire has about the same as adopted
her, and that she'll have the lions
share 81 Alexis money. She went In
on the Squire's own arm when the
funeral sermon was preached; il was
very touching. Why don't you say
something. Bettyp l always thought
you and Alcck were good friends; and
Louise
''What il there to say?" Betty asked.
directly. There was an odd luster In
her eyes, but she was not crying; she
looked pctriiied.
You might at least say you were
sorry
"sorrye Oh, yes - absently-"I
suppose"
why. Betty. haven't you any feel
ing?"
''Idon't know. Perhaps not. What
good would il do?"
"Aleck was such good friend 20
you! DO you remember when he used
To come and help you with your Ger
man? used to think he was a little in
love with You, Betty; but il seems /
was mistakcn; and for the matter Of
that. il doesn't signify. now that he il
dead. Indeed, it's better for you as IL
j.; you are spared the sorrow. Why.
Betty. are you sick' i any thing the
mattcr?"
Betty had risen with great cry, and
was stretching out unavailing arms
into space. He is dead -Alcck and
he loved her. and she has right to her
sorrow: and r.
II was three months before Betty L.
Brctoa was able to sit up. The neigh
bors said she had come home from the
mountains with malaria, and II was
doubtful il she would ever get it out Of
her system. Miss lie Breton, her aunt,
wisely said nothing; but when she saw
Louise in her funeral garments driv-
ing by in Squire Fanshawc's carriage.
she wondered IL Betty were not far
more miserable. Betty herself won
dcrcd why she did not die in that bit
ter season Of despair. There seemed to
be nothing 10 detain her here; life had
come 70 a stand-still. II was not that
Aleck had died: she could have borne
that, perhaps, and sorrowcd brayely.
and yet have lived on. That would
have been grief enough, 70 be sure.
for one heart To bear: but she would
still have possessed the tender assur-
ance Of his love 10 compensate her.
She would not have lost him utterly:
she could have lived on. with the GER
tainty Of meeting him unchanged ut
la<f inst NJ she had cxisfoI fhro,fsrh